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Saturday, April 14, 2012

When life gives you lemons and for some reason you can’t make lemonade, find a recipe for a lemon cake. The secret is to turn bitter into sweet.

My RB loves lemon pie. Lemon Meringue pie just calls his name. A few years ago he found a rival for his love. Our friend, Lorna, makes a two-crust lemon pie. Can we say, "deliciously taste-bud-pleasing in a sweetish-tart kind of way? All in a flaky crust.

I'm not sure what all Lorna puts in her pie, but I am certain it includes sugar. Putting whole lemons between the crusts just wouldn't work. But when she puts in the sugar---we all want a [huge] piece. In the same way, our bitter trials can be turned into something those around us would like to taste.

We are cautioned against this bitterness in Hebrews 12:15. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you. The last part of this verse tells us why bitterness needs some sugar. Two words: corrupting others.

Our bitter spirits will corrupt others, and instead of drawing our loved ones and associates to our Jesus, we will turn them away from the One they need.

So what is this sugar we put into the trials of our lives? It's thankfulness--I believe it is verbal praise to our God. When we are thanking God there isn't room for bitterness.

If you are struggling with bitterness from life's heartaches, I challenge you to search out praise verses in God's Word. Begin in the Psalms and highlight every verse that praises God. Begin praying the verses in your quiet time. You'll be amazed what happens in your heart.

Like making something sweet out of lemons, make something sweet out of your trials. Praise the Lord in song, for he has done excellent things (Isaiah 12:5).

Praise the Lord by Russ Taff

When you're up against a struggle

That's shattered all your dreams

And your hopes been cruelly crushed

By Satan's manifested schemes.

And you feel the urge within you

To submit to earthly fears,

Don't let the faith your standing in

Seem to disappear --

CHORUS:

Praise the Lord. He will work for those who praise Him.

Praise the Lord. For our God inhabits praise.

Praise the Lord...And those chains that seem to bind you

Serve only to remind you,

As they fall powerless behind you --

When you praise Him.

* * * * *

Sweet Lemon Gift

I have a friend going through some trials. I had fun filling this basket for her.